Combined retainer, lock and rotator



June 13, 1961 D. J. SEILER COMBINED RETAINER, LOCK AND ROTATOR 1 m 2 h 3 flfl a 4 m 4% s 2 Z M w i|fx RH M 4 a 7 Z 1 1 n a 1 j x 0 5 x,

Filed April 4, 1960 Donald J eiler 1' i |||||ln Illa June 13, 1961 D. J. SEILER COMBINED RETAINER, LOCK AND ROTATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4, 1960 United States Patent 2,988,073 COMBINED RETAINER, LOCK AND ROTATOR Donald J. Seller, Mentor, Ohio, assignor to Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 19,799 10 Claims. (Cl. 123-90) This invention relates generally to valve assemblies and more particularly relates to a device which combines the functions of retaining a valve spring, locking the valve and releasing and rotating the valve in an internal combustion engine valve assembly.

In the interests of improving valve operation in internal combustion engines, different forms of valve rotating devices have been provided to etfect cyclic rotation of the valves during the course of operation thereof, thereby to assist in eliminating valve burning as well as wearing, pitting the stem-galling and scoring.

Sometimes the design of supplementary apparatus for the purpose of rotating the valves has added considerable complications and additional bulk and weight to the stem end of the valve assemblies. For example, such rotating devices have been required to be provided in addition to the usual means of providing a suitable device for seating and retaining the valve spring as well as additional means which are required to lock said valve spring retaining means to the end of the valve stem.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, all three functions are combined in a single device so that the valve spring may be retained, the valve locked and the valve released and rotated in a simple mechanical mechanism of reduced size and improved simplicity.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a simple unitary device which combines the functions of retaining the valve spring, locking the valve and releasing and rotating the valve.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of valve-rotating device which eliminates parts and which is inexpensive to manufacture, but dependable in operation.

Many other features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment of a combined retainer, lock and rotator is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view showing a combined retainer, lock and rotator device according to the principles of the present invention applied to the poppet valve assembly of an internal combustion engine and with parts broken away and with parts shown in cross-section to illustrate the positioning of the components when the valve is at a first position during a typical valve-operating cycle; FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the valve lifted away from its seat and illustrating at the broken away portions and the parts shown in cross-section, the components of the device at the end of a valve-rotating period in the valve-operating cycle;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the combined device of the present invention in pre-installed condition;

9 FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing thecomponents of the device in completely installed position; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the device of FIGURES 3 and 4 but with parts broken away to show additional details of construction.

As shown on the drawings:

'Iwo axially adjacent relatively rotatable parts are proi 21, thereby placing the cover F ice vided in accordance with the principles of the present invention by a valve connected part more particularly identified as a valve stem 10 and by a retainer means indicated generally at 11. The parts 10 and 11 are particularly suited for use with a valve assembly shown in the illustrative embodiment described herein as a poppet assembly of the type employed in an internal combustion engine, or the like.

Thus, an engine part is shown at 12 and provides a port indicated at P having a valve opening 13 presenting a beveled valve seat 14 regulated by the beveled seating surface 16 of a valve head 17 to which the stem 10 is connected.

The stem 10 is slidably carried in the engine part 12 by means of a valve stem guide 16. A valve spring 17 has one end 18 bottomed against the engine part 12, while the opposite end is retained and engaged against the combination device of the present invention.

For purposes of this disclosure, the valve spring 17 may be considered as having two positions of compression, namely, a first position illustrated in FIGURE 1 Where the valve head 17 is illustrated as having its beveled seating surface engaged against the valve seat 14, thereby to close the opening 13 and, the second position when the valve head 17 is in open position, as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Referring now more particularly to the details of the combined device provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention, it will be noted there is provided for the retainer means 11, a retainer member which includes a body portion 20 flanged as at 21 in radially outwardly extending direction to provide a spring seating surface 22. l

The body portion 20 further includes an axially extend ing Wall 23 which is adapted to be spaced concentrically outwardly of the valve stem 10.

The body portion 20 further includes a convergent section shown generally at 24 which terminates in a centrally disposed axial opening 26 through which the valvesstem 10 extends.

Between the axial wall 23 and the central opening 26, there is formed by the convergent section 24 a tapered wall 27.

The retainer means 10 further includes a cover portion herein illustrated as taking the form of a separate cover part 28. It will be appreciated that the cover part28 could be fastened to the retainer body 20 in any suitable connecting form such as by screw threads, by Welding or, as illustrated in the embodiment herein disclosed, the cover part 28 has an annular flange 29 which is spun over. to closely embrace the outer peripheral edge of the flange part 28 in firm assembly with the retainer body 20.

The cover part 28 has formed thereon a wide supporting surface 30 which may be hardened, if desired, for en-, gaging with a rocker arm pad 31 (FIGURES 1 and 2).

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, there is contained within the retainer body 20 a multiple segment locking means, for example, a three segment butting-type lock herein shown at.32. The lock 32 comprises three circumferentially extending segments each of which being formed with an outer tapered surface 33 complementary to the tapered surface 27 on the convergent section 24 of the body 20, and an axially extending inner wall 34 which extends between end surfaces shown at 36 and 37 spaced apart from one another a distance which corresponds generally to the axial limits of a valve stem locking groove.

plicity of helically wound coils.

The valve stem is formed with a locking groove shown at 40, thereby to provide axially spaced shoulders shown at 41 and 42 at opposite ends of the groove 40.

The tip of the valve stem 10 is 'shown at 43. Adjacent the tip, there is provided on the valve stem 10 a tapered surface at 44.

In FIGURE 3, the combined device of the present invention is shown in preinstalled condition. Thus, the cover part 28 is firmly assembled to the retainer body, the spring 38 is positioned within the body and the coils thereof engage against the axial wall 23. The three segment lock 32 is also in place, thereby retaining the entire device as a unitary subassembly.

To install the device in a valve assembly, the tip 43 of the valve stem 10 is inserted through the opening 26 and passes through the enlarged opening provided by the axial walls 34 of the three segment lock 32. By exerting pressure on the cover part 28 in an axial direction, the segments of the multiple segment lock 32 will be seated in the locking groove 40 and the surfaces 36 and 37 of the individual segments will engage the shoulders 42 and 41 at opposite ends of the locking groove 40, while the tapered walls 33 of the segments will engage against the tapered wall 27 on the body 20.

Once installed, the valve spring 17 holds the segments of the lock 32 against the seating surfaces of the valve groove 40 and a clearance will be maintained between the valve tip 43 and the cover part 28, which clearance is illustrated in FIGURE 4 by the reference numeral 50 (see also FIGURE '1). In the closed valve position, the garter spring 38 is in a semi-relaxed position but exerting a nominal snubbing pressure against the end of the valve stem 10 and also against the inside surface 57 of the cover part 28, thereby tending to retain the inner and outer relatively rotatable parts against rotation.

On a valve opening impulse, the rocker arm 31 exerts a force on the cover part 28 compressing the valve spring 17, as shown in FIGURE 2. The valve, including the head 17 and the stem 10, by virtue of inertial resistance to movement, tends to relieve itself of the locking force by moving in a direction to close the clearance gap 50 between the tip 43 and the surface 57 of the cover part 28. In so doing, a force is exerted against the coils of the garter spring 38 by the coaction of the tapered surface 44 .on the valve stem 10 and the axial wall 23 of the retainer body 20. The garter spring 38, in turn, reacts with a torsional force rotating the valve 10.

It should be noted that the pressure exerted by the spring 38, at all times, acts as a snubber to avoid damage to the locking groove 40 in the stem 10 of the valve and to the lock seating surfaces associated therewith.

Accordingly, by virtue of the provisions made as described herein, there is provided a device which advantageously combines in a single simplified unit the functions of retaining the valve spring, locking the valve and releasing and rotating the valve. Furthermore, such device is an inexpensive relatively disposable assembly which may be installed as a preassembled unit and thereby simplifies cylinder head assembly.

Furthermore, by use of the device there is not only afforded a wide, hardenable supporting surface for the rocker arm pad, but the need for a grommet seal is eliminated which is usually associated with the oil well condition existing at the tip end of a conventional valve tip assembly.

It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a retainer member having an annular body portion and a radially outwardly extending valve spring seating flange, said body portion having a center opening through which is received the end of a valve stem, said body portion further providing a tapered wall diverging upwardly and outwardly from said opening, and an axial wall spaced concentrically outwardly of said opening, a valve stem having a tapered tip inwardly of said axial wall and a peripheral lock groove formed therein inwardly of said tapered wall, a multiple segment butting-type locking means between said stem and said retainer member received in said lock groove and engaged against said tapered Wall, a spring means providing multiple coils between said stem and said retainer member engaged against said tapered tip and said axial wall, and a cover plate fastened to said flange and extending thereover to form a rocker arm support surface, thereby to combine the functions of retaining the valve spring, locking the valve and releasing and rotating the valve.

2. For use in a valve assembly, a combined retainer, lock and rotator comprising a retainer means having an annular flanged body for receiving the end of a valve stem and for seating a valve spring, a multiple segment butting-type lock in said body to engage an inwardly adjacent valve stem, said retainer means having a cover pro- 'viding a rocker arm support surface, and a garter spring in said body between said cover and said lock to engage against the valve stem while engaging the adjoining wall of 'said body, thereby to combine the functions of retaining the'valve spring, locking the valve and releasing and rotating the valve in a unitary device.

3. A device for combining the steps of releasing and rotating a valve, retaining the valve spring and locking the valve which includes a valve stem having a tip, means surrounding said tip including a cover portion overlying the tip with clearance and providing a rocker arm support surface, a flanged body portion for seating ,a valve spring and including an axial wall concentric with the stem and an inwardly tapered wall extending away from said axial wall towards said stern, said stem having a locking groove formed therein, a segmented butting-type lock engaging said tapered wall and said locking groove, and a garter spring between said lock and the cover portion engaging said axial wall, said stem having a tapered portion engaging the coils of said spring so that under valve operation tending to close said clearance force will be exerted on said spring to produce a torsional force tending to rotate the valve.

4. In a valve assembly having a valve attached part, a valve spring abutment part relatively rotatable with respect to said valve attached part, a segmented buttingtype lock between the two said parts, and a garter spring axially adjacent the lock and engaging against said two parts to rotatably drive the parts upon being subjected to compressive forces. V

5. A combined rotating, locking and spring seating device which comprises a retainer means having a cover portion overlying the end of a valve stem and a segmented butting-type lock means spaced therefrom for engaging a valve stem inwardly adjacent thereof, and a spring means providing an annular row of coils between the lock means and said cover part engaging said retainer means and adapted in response to forces imposed thereon by limited movement of the valve stem relative to the retainer means to rotatably drive the stem relative to said retainer means.

6.' In a valve assembly, a valve stem and a relatively rotatable retainer means including a segmented lock and having a limited axial clearance gap therebetween which tends to close in response to valve'opening load, and means between said stern and said retainer rnean s including a garter spring having helically wound coils and surfaces on said stem and on said retainer means respectively spaced radially inwardly and outwardly of said coils and shaped to impose compressive forces .on the spring coils of said garter spring for tilting the coils in PQ o valve pen 1914 thereby t t rsi aal y drive the valve stem rotatably.

7. In a valve assembly, a valve stem having a tip, a peripheral Wall axially inwardly of said tip, a lock groove axially adjacent said peripheral wall, retainer means including a segmented lock engaging said lock groove and further including a wall concentrically radially outward of said peripheral wall, said retainer means having a limited axial clearance gap with said stem tending to close upon opening movements of the valve, and spring coils disposed to engage said walls on said stem and on said retainer means, one of said walls being tapered to impose compressive forces on said coils to torsionally drive the stem in rotation in response to closure of said clearance gap.

8. In combination, a valve stem and a retainer having inner and outer axially extending surfaces and being relatively rotatable with respect to one another, a spring means having coils disposed to engage said inner and outer surfaces, one of said surfaces being tapered with respect to the other to impose compressive forces against said coils in response to valve opening movements, thereby to torsionally drive the stern rotatably.

9. In combination, a valve stem and a retainer having inner and outer axially extending surfaces, lock means between said retainer and said valve stem affording clearance closure movement upon valve opening, and a garter spring means encircling said stern and having coils disposed to engage said surfaces, one of said surfaces being tapered with respect to the other to impose compressive forces against said coils for tilting the coils in response to valve opening movements, thereby to torsionally drive said stern rotatably.

10. In combination, a valve stem and a retainer having inner and outer axially extending surfaces, said stem having a lock groove and said retainer having segmented butting-type lock means engaging said groove, and a spring means providing coils disposed to engage said inner and outer surfaces on said stern and. on said retainer, one of said surfaces being relatively tapered to impose compressive forces against said coils in response to valve opening movements, thereby to torsionall'y drive said stem rotatably.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,847,981 Sampietro Aug. 19, 1958 

